[TWIAR] SuitSat-1 has re-entered the atmosphere

[Williams, Gregory S.]

ZCZC AS07
QST de W1AW
Space Bulletin 007 ARLS007
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington, CT September 8, 2006
To all radio amateurs

SB SPACE ARL ARLS007
ARLS007 SuitSat-1 (AO-54), re-enters Earth's atmosphere

SuitSat-1 (AO-54) is history. The surplus Russian Orlan spacesuit turned
satellite re-entered and burned up in Earth's atmosphere Thursday, September
7, at 1600 UTC some 1400 km south-southwest of Western Australia. The
announcement came September 8 from Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS)International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO. SuitSat-1 became
one of the greatest public relations vehicles for Amateur Radio in years.
Bauer expressed thanks to ''all who made SuitSat-1 the phenomenal event that
it was.'' Launched February 3 during a spacewalk from the ISS, SuitSat-1 was
heard around the world, although at a much weaker signal strength than
anticipated.

''Your hard work and dedication paid off,'' Bauer continued. ''In just three
weeks the SuitSat team developed and delivered a safe satellite system that
has gained the confidence of the international space agencies.'' Bauer also
noted the ''unprecedented press coverage'' that included more than 9 million
hits on the SuitSat-1 Web site, www.suitsat.org, during February alone as
well as several prominent mentions in the general news media.

''Students around the world had the opportunity to participate in a
seven-month 'school spacewalk' with the artwork, pictures, signatures and
voices onboard,'' Bauer pointed out. ''And the 'super-sleuth' ham radio
operator extraordinaires were able to pull a significant amount of data from
the satellite, despite its low signal strength.''

After SuitSat-1's VHF ham radio payload stopped transmitting earlier this
year, AMSAT initiated a ''Chicken Little Contest,'' for participants to
guess when SuitSat-1 would deorbit. Winners and more information are on the
AMSAT Web site, www.amsat.org/amsat-new/ariss/suitsatContest.php.

Bauer said plans for a potential SuitSat-2 will be a discussion topic at the
AMSAT/ARISS joint meeting in October.
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/EX

Gregory S. Williams
williamsgs at saic.com